Nearly 60% of Oregon counties face program cuts as budget crisis grows

Nearly 60% of Oregon counties face program cuts as budget crisis grows

The Coos County Sheriff’s Office needed to take a drastic step.Strapped for cash, officials had cut the county’s jail capacity in half, losing 49 beds. With no place to put people who had been convicted of crimes, jail staff opened the doors and released 30 inmates in December. Many faced misdemeanor charges. Others were accused of felony property crimes.“We kept the rapists and the murderers and committers of the more serious crimes in jail,” C…